On 23-6-2025, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (‘FSSAI’) notified ‘Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) 1st Amendment Regulations, 2025’ to signal broader shift in India’s approach to regulate alcoholic products under food safety law. These regulatory changes are scheduled to take effect from 1-1-2026.
Key points:
- The Amending regulation revises and expands the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, marking a significant policy shift in India’s regulatory approach to alcoholic products.
- It formally introduces and defines Indian or Country Liquors, along with Ready-to-Drink (‘RTD’) beverages, Honey Wine (Mead), and Nitro Craft Beer within the scope of statutory standards.
- ‘Alcoholic RTD Beverages’ is clearly defined as flavoured drinks containing 0.5% to 15.0% ABV, prepared using spirits or mixed alcoholic bases, and may include permitted flavours, additives, juices, or spices. Carbonated versions must meet specific COâ‚‚ standards outlined in the updated Table-4.
- Table-4 has been renamed ‘Requirements for Alcoholic RTD Beverages’ and revised to reflect the new ABV ranging from >0.5%—8.0% to >0.5%—<15.0%, aligning with the formal RTD definition.
- Regulation 2.2 is revised to formally classify Country/Indian Liquors into two categories: Plain, and Blended, providing clarity on traditional formulations.
- The amendment also refines the classification of local spirits and introduces updated quality norms and legal recognition for traditional Indian liquors.
- A new Annexure-1 is introduced that lists Indian alcoholic beverages under three categories: Distilled Liquors, Undistilled Liquors, and RTD Alcoholic Beverages.
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It is also clarifies that any product in these tables already governed by any other Act or regulation will be exempt from the provisions of these Amendment Regulations.